Computer problems

I'm currently having problems with my home PC. I'm reliably informed by BT's support service that it's my ethernet adapter which seems to be malfunctioning, preventing me from connecting to the internet. Having no idea what an ethernet adapter is, let alone how to fix it, does anyone know of a reliable computer engineer in the area that might be able to help ?

Sounds like a bum steer from BT as an ethernet adaptor is a term used for a usb device for computers without an ethernet port,you have to have a pretty old motherboard for it not to have one.The potential problems you have are as follows

1)the ethernet port in the back of your machine is
broken
2)your modem router is broken
3)you a have defective ethernet cable going from the
back of your machine into the modem/router
4)you have a defective telephone cable going from the
back of the modem router in to the adsl filter
5)you have a defective adsl filter.

there are two computer shops on the old kent road which I have found to be acceptable.Modern computers can't remember the other name

1, Are you using a DSL filter (about £5). It's essential. It plugs into the BT phone socket and gives you a phone outlet and an ethernet outlet for the cable to your computer. You need a DSL filter on all your phone sockets even if just connected to a phone.

or

2.Unscrew the front of your BT wall-socket (the main BT socket if there's more than 1) and you should see a test socket. plug the ethernet cable into that. That bypasses any faulty screening from the phone signal.

2.Unscrew the front of your BT wall-socket (the main BT socket if there's more than 1) and you should see a test socket. plug the ethernet cable into that. That bypasses any faulty screening from the phone signal.

Ie plug the DSL filter into the test socket and the ethernet cable into the filter.

Thanks everyone for all your advice. That's really helpful of you all. I've printed it off and will read properly at home. When I was getting the info from BT I was in the process of switching from a modem to BT's home hub (wi fi). I've now tested a laptop and that seems to work with the home hub perfectly well so it must be a problem with my desktop.

I'm looking for help with a different type of problem. I opened Vista to find that it didn't want to load my personal profile and whilst I've managed to get in and can now receive emails and use the internet, all my histories and documents have disappeared deep in the system somewhere. Can anyone recommend someone that will be able to help me get my life back ?